German Retail Sales Up in August

Data Shows the Biggest Increase in Over Three Years

FRANKFURT—German retail sales recovered in August from a sharp decline the previous month, posting the biggest gain in more than three years, the country's Federal Statistics Office said Tuesday.

Retail sales in August rose 2.5% in inflation-adjusted terms, compared with July, sharply outperforming analysts' forecasts' in poll by The Wall Street Journal that forecast a 0.5% increase. The data followed a revised fall of 1.1% in July from a first estimate showing a 1.4% drop. The data are also adjusted for seasonal...